Right Wood, Right Way,

Right Stove.

What you can do to prevent wood smoke pollution.

For more inFormation on burning

wood so that it produces less

indoor and outdoor pollution

From wood smoke, visit

burnwise.alaska.gov.

prevent wood smoke

burn wise and breathe easy by

burning the right wood, the right

way, in the right stove.

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protection starts with prevention

There are many ways to limit exposure to indoor and outdoor wood smoke pollution, but the best line of defense is to stop it at the source. As a wood stove user there are many ways to reduce wood smoke pollution not only to yourself, but to your neighbors as well.

everyone is at risk

Wood smoke is made up of gases and tiny particles that travel through the air and are so small that even windows and doors in weather-tight homes cannot keep them out. It also gets into eyes and lodges deep into the lungs. Those who have had high exposure levels for many years are at an increased risk of developing serious respiratory and cardiovascular problems because the tiny particles enter the body’s circulation system through the blood stream. However, even short-term exposure to wood smoke—for days or even hours—can aggravate lung disease, asthma and bronchitis.

10 tips For preventing wood smoke pollution

Burning the right wood, the right way, while using the right wood burning stove are burn practices that will help save your money and your health. If you burn wood, also consider these

tips for preventing wood smoke pollution.

1. Burn dry wood. It is cleaner and up to 30 percent more efficient.

2. Build small, hot fires instead of large smoldering ones.

3. To dry your wood, remember to split it into pieces that are no larger than six inches in

diameter, stack it loosely in alternating directions, store it at least six inches off the ground, and

keep it covered from the weather.

4. Keep your fire hot to produce the least smoke and the most heat.

5. Use an EPA-certified stove that uses clean burning technology and produces little smoke.

6. Have your stove and chimney professionally installed, inspected and serviced.

7. Never burn wood that has been painted or chemically treated, garbage, cardboard or

moldy wood.

8. Position the logs carefully by placing them close enough together to keep each other hot, but far enough apart to let air move between them.

9. Open the draft controls and damper one minute before opening the stove door to prevent back

drafting of smoke into the room.

10. Instead of wood heat, consider cleaner heating fuels such as gas, electricity or heating oil.